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BRING YOUR CAMERA:

If you are a note-taker wear your camera and take photos of the labels, winemakers, and tables, so you can remember your favorites for future ordering. This will also help you if your handwriting deteriorates throughout the tasting.

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SELECT A WINE TYPE BEFOREHAND:

Don't try to taste every single wine available. If you love chardonnay tour the tasting first for chardonnay. In fact, let the table staff know that you're in search of chardonnay on this round, but you might be up for exquisite reds next round."At the same time, be sure to try a wine you've never tasted before, such as a Muscadet, Vouvray or Gruner Veltliner.

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SEEK OUT THE LUMINARIES

Locate the luminaries on your programs and visit with those winemakers, don't just go to tables with sales reps. talking to the farmers themselves can yield extraordinary stories that will only help you enjoy the wine and event more.

Here's the list of wine luminaries and here's the list of chef luminaries

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MAKE CONVERSATION WITH THE LUMINARIES

Luminaries love to talk about aging of their wine, you'll catch them in a controversial and intellectually fun discussion by asking them:

Do you age your wine in Oak?

If the wines are aged in oak, inquire about the kind of oak used, and how the winemaker feels about oak aging? (hint: this is a true passion point)

Inquire about aging. If you were to purchase a bottle (indicate which one), would the winemaker recommend aging it longer before drinking or is it ready for indulging now?

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LUMINARY TO LOOK FOR

I'm very excited to spend time with Ray Corsen of Elyse Winery, who is also Luminary of the Year. In addition to having years of accomplishment under his belt, he has a fantastic personality, so make time to attend at least one event where you can see him: his dinner, luncheon, brunch, or tasting and bottle signing at my own Epernay.

Ray has a great approach to making wine, he's impressively consistent. He says that, "Making wine is cooking without the stove." And, by that Ray really expresses his ethos, that food and wine go together - wine doesn't just appear in a glass to be consumed alone. Wine is only as good as the meal accompanying it.